Marking a new era on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This month you might see TrimTag’s newest custom orange epaulettes on the shoulders on first responder uniforms.
Wearing orange epaulettes is a new way some public safety agencies have chosen to mark the first statutory National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2021.
A day at the end of September to remember
Starting in 2013, Orange Shirt Day has been held on the last day of September. Organized by the Orange Shirt Society, it is a movement to recognize the legacy of residential schools and to encourage reconciliation. Choosing September 30th symbolically aligns with the time of year when Indigenous children would be made to attend residential schools.
This day is meant to encourage reflection, education and awareness activities.
Being formally adopted earlier this year by the federal government, the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is now a statutory holiday. Joining in are the provinces from British Columbia, to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Northwest Territories.
As well, many school boards, colleges and universities along with regional and municipal governments including the City of Calgary and Peel Region in Ontario will recognize September 30th as a day to remember.
Why are these epaulettes orange?
Becoming recognized as a symbol for reconciliation, orange was chosen because of a bright orange shirt taken from survivor, Phyllis Webstad. Wearing it to her first day of school in Williams Lake, BC, it was taken from her when she was just six-years old.
Encouraging the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations to come is the idea behind the day.
Raising awareness through symbolic orange on the shoulders of those wearing TrimTag’s custom epaulettes are a small but important gesture to support reflection and education about the impacts of Indian Residential Schools on survivors, their families and their communities.
We hope orange epaulettes will be seen as a small act of reconciliation now and every September in the future.
Shoulder on: creating custom epaulettes
Working with many organizations, we create custom slip-on epaulettes in orange, pink or just about any colour for special events and awareness campaigns. TrimTag specializes in creating designs colour matched to an event or campaign theme, such as pink for Breast Cancer Awareness or aqua for mental health awareness. We can add custom embroidered insignia, flags and logos of any type.
We shoulder on for you. Get in touch today to get started on your next special event epaulette design.